Sensation and Perception 
                            
                                            University of Alaska Fairbanks 
        
                                                        Syllabus 
         PSY F470 W,O; 3 credits                                                   Daní K. Sheppard, Ph.D.
         Spring 2012                                                                   706A Gruening Bldg.
         T & Th 9:45-11:15a                                           474-6514, dani.sheppard@alaska.edu 
         Classroom                                                                        Office hours: TBA
                                                       TA: TBA 
                                TA office: TBA;  email: TBA@alaska.edu   phone: 474-TBA 
                                        TA office hours: TBA, and by appointment 
           
       Prerequisites:  ENGL F111X; ENGL F211X or F213X; COMM F131X or F141X; nine credit hours of PSY (including 
       PSY F101 & PSY F275); or permission of instructor. (Writing criteria A.1.) 
        
       Writing and Oral intensive (W,O):  This class meets the university requirements for one of the two core 
       upper division writing intensive requirements, and for the core upper division oral intensive requirement. The requirements 
       for this course meet specific guidelines for public communication in medium or large class contexts (criteria set #3). If you 
       have any questions about how this course fits into your degree requirement, please be sure to ask me.  
        
       Important dates: 
             Friday, Jan 29     Last day to drop classes for 100% refund; last day to add a class 
             Friday, Feb 5      Last day to drop classes for 50% refund; last day to drop 
             Monday, Feb 15     Last day to apply for May graduation & scholarships for 2010-11 
             Su-Sa, Mar 7-13    Spring Break 
             Friday, Mar 26     Last day to withdraw with a grade of "W" 
             Monday, Apr 5      Fall 2010 Registration begins 
             Tue, May 11        Final exam, 3:15-5:15pm, regular classroom 
        
       Course readings and materials:   
              1. Texts (1) Coren, S., Ward, L.M., & Enns, J.T. (2004). Sensation and Perception (6th ed.). Hoboken, 
                   NJ: Wiley.  
                        (2) American Psychological Association. (2009). Publication Manual of the American 
                   Psychological Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC: Author. 
              2. UA username – If you are a new student, you can find out what your username is by going to 
                   http://elmo.alaska.edu or stopping by the Computer Help Desk in the Rasmuson Library. 
              3. Blackboard – We will use Blackboard. You are expected to keep up with posted announcements, 
                   changes, assignments, and other postings. You can access Blackboard at http://classes.uaf.edu.  
              4. Email – All email communications will be via your UAF email account. If this account is not your 
                   primary email account, you can forward UAF email to an address of your choice at 
                   www.alaska.edu/oit/email/mail_forwarding.xml 
              5. Stapler 
              6. Semi-professional attire – Appropriate attire is needed for the Sensational Perceptions Fair (no 
                   jeans or shorts). 
               
       Course description:  Sensation and perception are the underlying foundations for experiencing the world 
       around us. Our senses provide us with a mechanism for acquiring information about the environment and 
       relaying it to the brain. Our brain then provides an interpretation of that message, allowing us to respond with 
       thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. This course will examine the mechanisms of our primary senses as well as 
       how our brain interprets these stimuli. More importantly, we will discover how these interpretations and our 
       responses to the environmental stimuli are influenced by our experiences, cultural background, mood and 
       psychological state, the social situation, and physiological factors. We will also discover how researchers 
       investigate the mechanisms of and the influences on sensation and on perception.  
                  Because of the role of sensation and perception in our daily lives, it is important to learn about them 
         early in our lives. A major part of this course will include working with the students in the Psychology class at 
         West Valley High School to design a booth for the Third Biannual “Sensational Perceptions” Fair that provides 
         depth on one of our sensation or perceptual processes. CRITICAL NOTE: taking this class will require an 
         elevated level of commitment and maturity essential for the continued mentorship of high school students 
         throughout the semester. 
          
         Course goals and learning outcomes:  The activities, readings, and assignments will enhance 
         your ability to: 
           1.  define transduction and describe its mechanisms for vision, hearing, touch, balance, kinesthesis, smell, 
               and taste; 
           2.  describe the physiological and neuronal processes that are involved in each sense; 
           3.  demonstrate competency in the theories and processes of perception; 
           4.  describe how developmental, genetic, cultural, social, psychological, and physiological factors can 
               influence sensation and perception; 
           5.  identify various disruptions to our sensory and perceptual systems (e.g. disease, trauma, disorders, 
               drugs); 
           6.  find and critically evaluate resources and current research involving sensation and perception; 
           7.  communicate competency effectively in both oral and written formats to various audiences with differing 
               levels of expertise; 
           8.  improve upon communication skills through effective response to feedback from instructor and peers;  
           9.  creatively present information involving sensation or perception to a general audience; 
           10. instill enthusiasm among local high school students for the processes involved in sensation and 
               perception; 
           11. mentor high school psychology students through a project from beginning to end; and, 
           12. develop an appreciation for using higher education resources to enhance the educational opportunities 
               for students in our local schools. 
          
         Instructional methods:  This course will include lecture, field trips to West Valley High School, oral 
         presentations by peers, use of Blackboard, group project, in-class activities, videos, and service learning: 
         working with a community partner to attain goals and outcomes. 
          
          
         Honor and Conduct:     
           Students must abide by academic integrity standards as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct found 
           online at http://www.uaf.edu/catalog/current/academics/regs3.html#Student_Conduct or in the current UAF 
           Catalog. Any activity not pursuant to the Code, including behavior that is disruptive to the class and learning 
           environment of other students, will result in a faculty-initiated withdrawal from the course. You are 
           encouraged to study together to prepare for activities, tests, and homework. However, everything you submit 
           must be your own work unless otherwise clarified in class. 
          
         Evaluation:   500 pts                                       % 
                               Participation              300          60 
                                     Project              200          40 
                                                                          
                   An A = 450 pts and above// B = 400-449 pts// C = 350-399 pts// D = 300-349 pts// F = 299 pts and below 
               
              Incomplete grades: An incomplete grade (I) for the course can be requested ONLY if conditions outlined in 2009-2010 
              Catalog (p. 44) have been met. Failure to attend or complete the course, whether due to negligence or indifference will result in a 
              grade of “F,” unless you have filed an official course withdrawal by the deadline listed on page 1 of this syllabus. 
               
            * An absence at any time does not relieve you of your responsibility for material covered in class, 
                 assignments, or adhering to announced deadlines. Classmates are the most appropriate and reliable 
                 source for missed material, not me.  
          
            * Subjective assessment will be based on your “participation” in the course – examples include attendance, 
                 preparation, quality of work handed in, depth of thought, creativity, initiative in the use of resources 
       outside the classroom (e.g. writing center, Blackboard, my office hours, library, internet, etc), 
       participation in classroom discussion, etc. 
     
       * Rubrics for all assignments are included at the end of this essay and are posted on Blackboard for you. 
     
     
    Participation (300 pts) 
       * Participation points accumulate from a combination of in-class activities (50 pts) and homework (HW) assignments 
       (250pts). There are 14 HW assignments; you will complete one per week. They are due every Tuesday. See course 
       calendar for which assignments are due. 
       * Homework assignments consist of Themes Summaries (3x30pts=90pts), Ponderables (2x10pts=20pts), 
       Demonstrations (3x20pts=60pts; one of which is oral), Critical Reviews (2x30pts=60pts), and Concept Uses 
       (4x5pts=20pts). Details for each assignment and distribution of assignments across the seven senses are included 
       at the end of the syllabus. 
       * In-class activities will vary, will be unannounced, and will be worth 5-10pts each. It is your responsibility to attend class 
      regularly and have all readings completed in order to maximize your performance on these activities. You will be 
      provided with 70 pts of opportunity to gain your maximum 50pts; hence, no make-up opportunities for missed activities 
      will be provided for ANY reason, excused or unexcused. 
     
    Project (200 pts):  You will work as a team with students in the Psychology classes at West Valley High School to 
      develop a booth for the “Sensational Perceptions” Fair on the day of Spring Fest from 8-11am. Topics will be 
      due early in the semester, so decide quickly what you want to spend the semester working on! Your points will 
      accumulate based on participation in planned gatherings, external gatherings, critical reflections, oral presentations, 
      booth preparation, problem solving, sticking to timeline, quality of booth, mentorship of high school student(s), 
      participation on day of Fair, and a final reflection paper. Details for all items will be provided in class as the semester 
      progresses. Due to the nature of working with a community partner, it is essential that you be flexible and prepared for 
      adjustments to the schedule. 
     
    Meeting oral intensive requirements: In the above assignments, you will be delivering 3 oral 
      presentations to your classmates (Oral criteria 3.a.). You will receive guidance on preparing effective presentations 
      and will be given a tour of the UAF Speaking Center; see course calendar for schedule (Oral criteria 3.e.). Each will be 
      5-6 minutes in length, including time to address questions (Oral criteria 3.a., 3.b.). Each presentation must have a 
      clear introduction-body-conclusion organization and include visual aids (Oral criteria 3.c.). You will be graded on the 
      length and organization of the presentation, the mastery of the content, your oral competency, your responses to 
      questions, your use of feedback, and your use of visual aids (Oral criteria 3.a., 3.b., 3.c., 3.d.). You will receive 
      feedback on this essay and each subsequent writing assignment in order to assist in your development of your writing 
      skills. The 3 presentations include the Participation-Demonstration (20 pts; week 4), the Fair-Elevator Speech (20 pts; 
      week 9), and the Fair-Final Reflections (40 pts; week 14) (Oral criteria 1.b.). Your presentations total 80/500 pts, or 
      16% of your total grade  (Oral criteria 1.a.). Criteria, format, and grading rubric for each presentation are included at 
      the end of the syllabus. 
     
    Meeting writing intensive requirements: In the above assignments, you will be completing 14 writing 
      assignments (13 will count toward Participation, 1 toward Project serving as your final exam), seven of which will have 
      an introduction-body-conclusion organization (Writing criteria A.3.). In class on the second meeting, you will be writing 
      an essay on Top-down and Bottom-up Processing that will serve as a diagnostic regarding your writing skills; this essay 
      will not be graded (Writing criteria A.2.). You will receive feedback on this essay and each subsequent writing 
      assignment in order to assist in your development of your writing skills. During weeks 9-11, you will schedule a writing 
      consultation with me to review the status of your writing skills (Writing criteria A.4.). Your 14 writing assignments 
      comprise 230 pts from Participation and 40pts from Project, for a total of 270/500 pts, or 54% of your total grade 
      (Writing criteria A.5.). Criteria, format, and grading rubric for each writing assignment are included at the end of the 
      syllabus. 
    Important notes and expectations (course policies):    
     * My primary goal is to support your success in this course. I am NOT a mind-reader. Take advantage of my 
        very lonely and under-utilized open-door office hours!!  I'm happy to talk with you about content, 
        lectures, tests, study strategies, grades, and anything else you may need!!!  
     * The syllabus is subject to change. The progression of every course is dependent upon the unique dynamic 
        between students, instructor, and unforeseen circumstances. Should anything in the syllabus need 
        revision, your input will be considered. You will be notified in writing (in class and on Blackboard) of any 
        modifications. 
     * Phone calls are a much better way to reach me than email. If I do not acknowledge receipt of an email 
        within 48 business hours, please resend it. 
     * You will have the opportunity to attend seminars, and we may have guest lecturers. It is expected that you 
        show the speakers the utmost respect: arriving early, staying the entire time, ensuring electronics are 
        silenced, and remaining quiet during the presentation. 
     * Attending less than 50% of the class periods (as accounted by quiz scores) by the withdrawal deadline will 
        result in a faculty-initiated withdrawal from the course. 
     * The use of personal electronic devices (cell phones, texting, laptops) is not permitted in the classroom. 
        Activity on any device is very distracting to other students. Please ensure they are silenced.  
     * Should we have them, each of your in-class tests will BEGIN at the beginning of class time. It is essential 
        that you be there at the start of the test to hear any announcements relating to the test. Showing up late 
        is disrespectful of, disruptive for, and unfair to the students who do show up on time and puts you at 
        risk for missing important information.  
     * Please consider the effects your actions have on others in the class (arriving late, loud crunching, rustling 
        with bags & coats, speaking up too much, not respecting others perspectives, whispering while 
        someone else is talking, etc). 
     * NEVER assume your email or phone message has been received until you receive confirmation from 
        me!!!!! Technology has a way of gobbling up assignments and messages. It is YOUR responsibility to 
        make sure an instructor gets the message/assignment, not the responsibility of TECHNOLOGY. If it is 
        an important message you want read or heard, YOU make sure it has reached its final destination. 
     * Take care to avoid the paranormal exponential increase in computer crashes, jump drive malfunctions, 
        cross-platform format changes, writing center closures, and printer failures around the time things are 
        due! These are not acceptable excuses for late assignments. PLAN AHEAD. Know the hours for 
        Writing Center and Computer Labs. 
     * All assignments should be STAPLED, proof-read, and turned in on clean pages with no spiral-notebook-
        frillies (i.e. take pride in the final product you turn in
                                 ).  
      
      
    Disability Services: The Office of Disability Services at UAF implements the Americans with Disabilities 
      Act (ADA), and insures that UAF students have equal access to the campus and course materials. I will 
      work with the Office of Disabilities Services (203 Whitaker, 474-7043) to provide reasonable 
      accommodation to students with documented disabilities. Please make arrangements with me within the 
      first few weeks of classes. If you have any questions about the services available for individuals with 
      documented disabilities, I would be happy to answer them. 
     
    Support Services:  Writing support services are available on the UAF Campus in the Writing Center, 
     located in 801 Gruening, 474-5314. You are encouraged to use this resource to meet writing expectations. In 
     addition, Student Support Services are available at UAF. Services include: 1) free tutorial services; 2) small 
     study groups; 3) academic advising, mentoring, and personal support; 4) direct financial assistance to 
     qualified Pell Grant recipients; 5) use of laptop computers, labs, and other technology resources; and 6) 
     cultural and social engagement. The office is located at 508 Gruening Building, and the phone number is 
     474-6844. You may also obtain additional information about support services at: 
     http://www.uaf.edu/sssp/index.html 
     
     
    Extra Credit: No planned extra credit will be available for this course. The intent is for all your time and efforts to go 
      into the assigned items and focus on the quality of your community service project.